Accused of carrying cow meat, UP shop owner brutally assaulted; 2 arrested

A video purportedly showing the victim being assaulted by a group of people has been circulating on social media.

Based on a complaint filed by Shareef, an FIR has been registered at the Harduaganj police station naming seven people from another community and 12 unidentified people. A sample of the seized meat has been sent to a laboratory for examination.

Rajiv Dwivedi, Circle Officer, Aligarh, said two accused, identified as Sheelu Rajput and Anuj, have been arrested in connection with the case, and efforts are underway to trace the other suspects. He added that the victim had purchased around 20-25 kg of meat from a licensed supplier and was transporting it to his shop in the Harduaganj area.

The police said the accused are also residents of Harduaganj, and they are investigating whether there was any other motive behind the attack. A police officer said there was no information to suggest that the accused were associated with any organisation. They claimed that Shareef did not sustain serious injuries in the attack.

Accused were waiting to attack him, claims family

Shareef, from Gudiyai area in Aligarh, is married and has four children. He has been running a meat shop for over two decades.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Shareef’s younger brother, Nadeem, said that his brother has been legally selling buffalo meat at his shop located in the Atrauli area.

“On Saturday morning, my brother purchased meat from a supplier named Mohsin, who is associated with a food processing unit. He obtained valid purchase documents and was transporting the meat on his motorcycle to the shop where he sells it,” Nadeem said.

He added that as his brother reached Hanumangarhi Road, he was stopped by a group of miscreants. They arrived on motorcycles and in a car, he said.

“The assailants questioned him about what he was carrying. When my brother showed them the valid purchase documents, they tore them up and began beating him, falsely alleging that he was carrying cow meat. They abused him, kicked and punched him, and also damaged his motorcycle,” Nadeem added.

On hearing the victim’s cries for help, several people gathered at the spot and witnessed the incident. While a few attempted to intervene, the accused allegedly threatened them. The police later arrived, took the victim into custody for his safety, and rushed him to a hospital for treatment. The complainant alleged that the accused hurled abuses and issued threats of dire consequences before fleeing the scene.

The family suspects that the accused were aware of the victim’s movements, had been following him for the past few days, and were waiting for an opportunity to attack.

Mohammad Arif, the victim’s brother-in-law, said that most of the accused were identified through videos of the incident that later surfaced. He denied Shareef’s enmity with the accused.

The FIR has been lodged on charges of rioting, wrongful restraint, voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation and mischief.